Raphanus Raphanistrum

Also known as Wild Radish or Jointed Charlock, probably the ancestor of the edible radish. Regarded as an invasive plant in many parts of the world, it spreads rapidly. I took this picture at the Ponds, where it grows on both sides of the trail. White, yellow, and purple. I first became aware of Wild Radish years ago, on the Tomales Point Trail in Point Reyes. I find it beautiful.

 

Cormorants

This morning at the Ponds. Only one of the birds had something to say!

 

Mystery Plant

As I was parking my car at the Half Day Cafe in Kentfield (every Thursday) this morning, I noticed this amazing bush. I have no idea what it is. Since I didn't have my camera along, I used my iPhone and I don't know what my Daily E-mail will look like. Forgive me for my sins for I knoweth not what I am doing!

 

Another Day, Another Masterpiece

I created this sculpture this morning in my Greenbrae studio. Please file under "ROCK ART".

 

Whatshamacallit

This gadget is used to tighten a wire that supports a fence near the Visitor Center in Point Reyes. I'm sure you can figure out how it works. Something about it attracted me, and on three occasions I stopped, thinking I should photograph it. The third time was the charm! Now there are two possibilities. The gadget is either worth a spot in a modern art museum, or else I'm beginning to lose it!

 

Believe it or not ~ I found the device on the Internet. It is properly called a Wire Tensioning Device, made by Leader Evaporator, Inc., and sells for $5.95! Leader, established in 1888, serves the maple sugar industry. I live (fortunately) and learn.

 

Luck of the Draw

This morning absolutely nothing was happening at the Ponds. Then Bob T and I came upon a Great Blue Heron on the trail. I knew that, sooner or later, she/he would take off. I was ready. And took two pictures. One of them was out of focus. Here's the other one., I never saw the two Mallards, or their reflection, until they popped up on the screen at home.

 

And the moral of the story is ~~ never despair!

 

Deer

I don't think I'll ever tire of taking pictures of deer (being city-bred and raised - me, not the deer)! This one at Point Reyes a few days ago.

 

Redwood Trees

Point Reyes trail that leads to the Coast Miwok Indian Village, called Kule Lokko. Don't get too excited though, it's a replica! But the Redwoods are real! It's all very close to the Visitor Center.

 

851

The numbers on cows' ears remind me of concentration camp tattoos. And, as a vegetarian and animal lover, I don't want to think about, or know, how their lives are ended.

 

I thought that 851, at the LGVSD Ponds, was especially good-looking, fancy hairdo and all! She looked intelligent to me! Is that possible? Judge for yourself.

 

Birds Of A Different Feather

In England's slang, women and girls are often referred to as "birds".

 

I never know what new species I'll run across on my birding visits to the LGVSD Ponds. The other day, for instance, I ran across a lovely flock of "birds" (plus a couple of guys) doing calisthenics. Specifically, members of the Marin YMCA Tri Club, cross-training for a triathlon, under the able leadership of head coach Diane Elliott.

 

My picture shows the group hard at work on their mats, highlighted by super-athlete Kiley, doing one-armed push-ups. Wow!

 

Ellis Creek Again

A visit to Ellis Creek spells Mute Swans to me. It's just too bad if they are discriminated against because they are non-native. After all, I'm also non-native! And to see one in flight is a real treat!

 

As the frog tired, toward the end of an eventful day, he had delusions of being Atlas supporting the heavens!

 

Three, unheard of, Daily E-mails in one day. But I have to do them today because they are St. Patrick's Day date appropriate. Also because the frog is still awake!

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This gal/guy woke me up at six o'clock this morning, quacking "it's St. Patrick's Day, it's St. Patrick's Day, take my picture, take my picture"! What else could I do but comply?

 

Narceous Americanus

A rainy morning. None of my little friends wanting to come out and play. Result - lethargy, threatening to turn into depression! Suddenly everything changed when I discovered a 2-1/2" Millipede on the wall of the staircase!

 

Scientist that I am, and, since there are only 1,400 species of millipedes in the U.S. to choose from, I immediately identified the visitor as a Narceous Americanus, only found in the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S.

 

After some intensive study I learned that these gals/guys will live 5 - 10 years, and that their eyesight is poor to non-existent.

 

Following a successful photo-session, and being a good Samaritan, I transferred my friend to a grassy area. A fond farewell was exchanged and we went our separate ways.

 

Hummingbird

Volunteer at the Point Reyes Bird Observatory, holding an Anna's Hummingbird, just before releasing it. The birds are caught in nets, weighed, measured, banded, and set free. I took this picture last November. The Observatory is really worth a trip to Bolinas (for those of you that live in the San Francisco Bay Area).

 

Tree Swallows

I just love swallows. And I enjoy watching them preening as they sit on a wire. I took today's picture at one of my favorite photography haunts - the LGVSD Ponds.

 

And by the way, birds on wires always remind me of sheet music.

 

Mooh!

For once I am innocent. I really did not Photoshop the cow into the landscape. Honest! I took the picture yesterday, at the LGVSD Ponds. The pond in the background is new, and I'm not sure whether it's permanent. Only time will tell. Suspense rules.

 

In a Race ..............

In a race I'd definitely put my money on the Canada Goose!

 

Faster Than A Speding Bullet

Have I ever mentioned before that Swallows are not easy to photograph in flight. Such was the case with the Tree Swallows, zipping around the Ponds this morning, in their never-ending pursuit of insects. I took dozens of pictures as I tried to follow the birds with my camera. Had I used film I would have heard a sucking sound in my wallet!

 

Greeter

Ellis Creek is one of my favorite birding spots. However, I am not sure that the Turkey Vulture (see picture) should have been hired as the park's greeter. For, while this bird is one of the most beautiful in flight, it lacks a little charm when encountered close-up. How about a Bald Eagle instead?

 

Shadow

Shadow at the Sausalito Houseboats. Not that it matters where.

 

Dragon

For a change of pace I thought I'd introduce my house dragon to you. I bought the carving on a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, a few years ago, directly from the artist. To be precise, the area where the carvings are made is a short taxi-ride outside of Oaxaca. There is a street where almost every house is an artist-studio, and each artist creates a different style of carvings. Often the whole family, even the children, is engaged making the figures.

 

One of the Eleven Brothers

"The Wild Swans" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a princess who rescues her eleven brothers from a spell cast by an evil queen. Here is a rare picture of one of the brothers, moments before the rescue.

 

Ellis Creek

Ellis Creek (Water Recycling Facility) in Petaluma is one of the loveliest bird-watching spots in the Bay Area. Bob T and I spent a great morning there and had the place pretty much to ourselves. The cold, gale-force, winds probably kept most people from venturing out!

 

LGVSD Ponds

Cormorant, bewildered by a Snowy Egret's antics. It happened this morning. A surprising summer day in March!

 

Sunday Morning

Sunday morning at the Ponds.

 

A Blast from the Past!

The calendar read December 24, 1947, when the Danish tramp-steamer M/S Grete Maersk, fresh from the Far East, sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge. Today's picture shows yours truly, then a 19-year-old pantry-boy, braving the wind, on the deck of the aforementioned vessel. Now, a few years older, I cannot resist adding this picture to all the hoopla surrounding the bridge's 75th birthday.

 

Forgive the schmutz around my eyes, but Photoshop has its limitations.

 

Houseboats

I wonder what it's like to live on a houseboat in Sausalito. Bob H and I spoke with a few of the residents this morning and they were all happy as clams! But, admittedly, it's a very different lifestyle from that of the rest of us.

 

Lotsa photo-ops!

 

Great Blue Heron

This Great Blue seems to reside near the start of the Earthquake Trail in Point Reyes. At least I have seen her/him there several times. I talk to her/him and she/he seems quite copasetic. I love to watch these birds, standing absolutely still, waiting for their prey to appear, and then ~ whammo, they strike!

 

"she/he" sounds very awkward, but what's a mother to do? "It" sounds insulting to me. In many languages all nouns are gender-sensitive, but that opens a whole different can of worms. We are faced with a problem!